Photographic-print washer.



E. N. BURDICK.

PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINT WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1910.

1,029,487, Patented June 11; 1912.

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EDWARD N. BURDICK, OF WESTERLY,'RHODE ISLAND.

PHOTOGBAPHIC-PRINT WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1912.

Application filed March 21, 1910. Serial No. 550,596.

- a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at WVesterly, in the county of Washington and State of RhodeIsland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Photographic-Print\Vashers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to photographic print washers, and has for anobject to provide a washing receptacle constructed to cause the water tomove in a circular path about a center column or outlet, the said columnbeing disposed outwardly of an overflow whose wall is spaced from thecolumn to permit the water at the bottom of the receptacle to risebetween the wall of the column and that of the overflow, the overflowbeing of less length than the said column so that the water after risingto a given height, will be efiiectively discharged, the saidconstruction of the said column and overflow respectively also obviatingflooding or overflowing of the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a print washer whichwill be automatic in action, and constructed so that all chemicals thatare heavier than the water will be drawn off from the bottom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a washer wherein means areemployed whereby the prints will be held positively against congestionat the discharge of the washer, the said means also serving as adeflector to cause the prints contacting therewith to move away from thedischarge end of the washer and to be maintained in the circulatingwater.

In the drawing, forming a portion of this application and in which likenumerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views:Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved photographic print washer.Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

My improved photographic print washer comprises a receptacle in theform, preferably, of a circular pan having a bottom 1 and an annularouter wall 2. At its center the bottom of the receptacle is formed toprovide a discharge opening 3 from which rises a column 4 forming anoverflow to be hereinafter described. Outwardly of the saidoverflow-forming column is a column 5 whose wall is spaced from the wallof the overflow column for a purpose to be hereinafter described. At thebottom the column 5 is formed to provide a vertically extendingforaminous discharge portion 7. The column 4 is disposed below the planeof the top of the pan so as to limit the rise of the water in the pan asis understood. A separating vane 8 extends vertically from the bottom ofthe receptacle and is tangential to the outer discharge column 5, theinner end of the said vane being secured in the outermost column in anyapproved well known manner. The separating vane is of a heightapproximately equal to that of the outer column. A small water inletpipe 11 extends partly around the annular wall of the receptacle, oneend of the said pipe being extended into the receptacle and arrangeddownwardly at an angle to the top of the receptacle, so that the waterwill be directed toward the bottom 1.

The bottom of the herein described receptacle is formed to providedepending feet or ribs 9 which are adapted to rest upon a suitable drainboard, sink or the like during operation of the device. Suitable handles10 extend from the wall of the receptacle in positions to beconveniently grasped by the operator to enable him to conveniently carrythe device from place to place.

In the operation of my improved print washer, I first introduce waterthereto by way of the inlet pipe described and I then place the print tobe operated upon in the body of water. Incident to the fact that thewater is delivered into the receptacle at the top, and in the mannerdescribed it will be seen that the full force of the flow uponintroduction of the water will be deflected by the annular wall 2 toimpart to the water the desired circular motion. The motion of the waterwill be spiral-like and the currents nearer the column 5 will travelwith less speed than the currents nearer the annular wall 2. The vane 8acts as a deflector and it is disposed with relation to the column 5 soas to interrupt or change the speed of the water currents and thedirection of travel of the water currents so that when the prints comein contact with the vane they will be directed to the outer circulatingcurrents of water. The prints are, therefore, substantially maintainedat all times in a fresh supply of water.

The position of the vane is such that it obviates the accumulation ofpictures at the discharge end of the column 5 thus providing for aneffective discharge of the water at all times and will keep the printsseparated.

The construction of the print washer is extremely simple and is suchthat a complete change of water is going on at all times.

It will of course be understood that such chemicals as hypo in solutionwhich is heavier than the water will fall to the bottom of thereceptacle and will be carried ofi? by the water currents at the lowestpointof the column 5.

I claim:

A print washer comprising a receptacle having a centrally locateddischarge opening, a column extending upwardly from the opening, asecond column embracing the first column and spaced therefrom andextended above the said first column and provided with alower'feraminous portion, a water inlet member extending partly aroundthe receptacle and opening thereinto and adapted to cause the water asit is introduced to the receptacle to circulate in a substantiallyspiral-like manner in the receptacle, and a vertically disposed vanesecured to the second column and extending tangentially thereto.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD N. BURDIGK.

WVitnesses:

EUGENE B. PENDLETON, OsoAR' H. Tnrr'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

